Officials Thinking About Elections

Council Members Weigh Plans

FARMINGTON — With the budget season over, members of the town council are turning their thoughts to the Nov. 6 municipal elections.

Five of the seven members say they intend, or are leaning toward, pursuing re-election this fall. Two are uncertain.

Republicans Michael Clark, Charles Keniston III and William Wadsworth say they plan to run again. Clark, a security executive who is chairman, and Keniston, a financial adviser, are in their inaugural two-year terms. Wadsworth, a civil engineer, is serving his fourth term.

FOR THE RECORD - Correction published June 2, 2007.Farmington voters rejected the budget in two referendums in 2005. A story Friday on Page B3 incorrectly reported that voters in 2006 turned aside the budget on two ballots.

``I've got unfinished business, as far as I'm concerned,'' said Wadsworth, echoing many of his council colleagues.

Property-tax relief for elderly residents, sturdier policies on economic development, open space and land use, and ethics reform are among the issues most council members say they want to stay around to address.

First-term Democrats Robert Huelin, a lawyer, and Michael Demicco, a former schoolteacher, both said they would seek re-election, if their party supports them.

``It's not completely my decision,'' Demicco said.

Undecided are first-term Republican Jeffrey Hogan, a benefits adviser who is council vice chairman, and firefighter Robert DiPietro, a Democrat who is the longest-tenured member. Both say personal considerations will factor into their decisions.

``I'm not leaning one way or the other at this point,'' said Hogan, noting that his business has mushroomed lately.

Hogan said that, unlike Keniston and Wadsworth, who have been screened by the GOP town committee on their candidacies, he has had only informal conversations with GOP leaders about his political future.

Hogan described Clark as a prized political teammate and said he is awaiting Clark's return from an overseas business trip to help him review his options.

Demicco, 48, Huelin, 31, and Wadsworth, 54, represent voters in the town's first district, largely the eastern and southern portions of Farmington. DiPietro, 52, Hogan, 44, and Keniston, 65, are from the second district, which covers the Unionville section. Clark, 52, was elected at-large as chairman.

The two major parties have until 4 p.m. on July 25 to file papers with the town clerk certifying endorsement of their fall slates. The parties open their caucuses in mid-July.

In November 2005, DiPietro and Wadsworth were the only incumbent survivors of a council race centered on voter concerns about rising property taxes and economic development. Republicans kept their council majority, which Huelin narrowed to 4-3 with his runoff win.

Voters have continued to display their unrest, turning aside a budget proposal on the first ballot in May, and twice rejecting a budget at the ballot box last year.

Their concerns also spawned a vocal taxpayer advocacy group that is opposed to what it claims is the town's wasteful spending. The Farmington Taxpayers Association has vowed a nonpartisan role in the outcome of the fall elections.

To counter the association, another group of taxpayers, Farmington Future, emerged to urge support for the council and the school board on budget matters.

Despite that, members of council say partisan views have not dimmed their collegiality in confronting municipal affairs.

``Every single person works together very well,'' said DiPietro, who has served a combined six terms dating to 1993. ``It's the most compatible council I've ever served on.''

In addition to seven council seats, voters will have a say in 21 other elected positions in November: four seats on the board of education; two seats on the board of assessment appeals; three seats and three alternates on the planning and zoning commission; three seats and three alternates on the zoning board of appeals; and three constables.